Last week in Seattle I had the incredible opportunity to sit a mere 10 feet away from the famed ballet dancer, Edward Villella (Italian heritage, don’t you know?).  He was here to coach the PNB dancers for their upcoming performances of “Rubies” from the Edward Balanchine suite of “Jewels”.  Balanchine had Villella in mind when he composed “Rubies.”  Here he is in a couple of vintage photographs from “Rubies.”

I’ve met a lot of celebrities over my lifetime, but, for some reason, being in the close orbit of Mr. Villella for 30 minutes last week was very exciting!  I suppose it is because seeing him takes me back to my childhood, when I would watch recordings of this magical dancer on television.  Here’s a great shot of il divo (the master dancer).

He seems like a very nice man as well as a famed dancer!  He still has a great physique and seems like a gentle man.